Stamping fee target stands at mere Rs 22 lakh
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 22 2020: The annual verification and stamping fee, and compounding fine collected by the Weight and Measures Department stands at just Rs 22 lakh, whihc is the target.

It is the duty of Weight and Measures Department to collect fees for verification of electronic weighing machines, cast iron weights of different denominations, petrol pumps, oil tankers and weighbridges.

The department also collects compounding fines for selling items which do not display prices and for selling commodities above the maximum retail prices.

The annual target for verification fee and compounding fine is just around Rs 22 lakh.

Electronic weighing machines and cast iron weights are used extensively by almost all shops dealing in different commodities.

Shops located in interior areas have been using cast iron weights which have not been verified for a very long time.

Cast iron weights used by a large number of shops located at Imphal city too have not been verified for years.

Even as the State Government has reportedly taken up a slew of measures to enhance its revenue collection, it seems the Government has been overlooking the Weight and Measures Department on the pretext that it is a minor department, sources said.

The Government need to take up necessary measures so that the department's annual target for collection of verification fees and compounding fines is raised above Rs 22 lakh.

Even though the annual target is Rs 22 lakh, the department was able to collect more than Rs 22 lakh last year.

However, the department's activity has been diminished severely this year on account of the COVID-19 pandemic and as such, the department is still unable to collect any substantial amount of revenue, said the sources.

Weighing machines and weights lose their accuracy if they are used for an extended period of time.

As a rule or convention, these weighing machines, scales and weights should be verified every two years while electronic weighing machines should be verified every year.

Likewise, oil pumps and oil tankers should be verified every year, the sources added.

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